Percy, in his well-known version of one of these agreeable romances, adopts the tame epithet of "gentle river," from the awkwardness, he says, of the literal translation of "verdant river." He was not aware, it appears, that the Spanish was a proper name. (See Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, (London, 1812,) vol. i. p. 357.) The more faithful version of "green river," however, would have nothing very unpoetical in it; though our gifted countryman, Bryant seems to intimate, by his omission, somewhat of a similar difficulty, in his agreeable stanzas on the beautiful stream of that name in New England.
[14] Zuñiga, Annales de Sevilla, año 1501.—Abarca, Reyes de Aragon, tom. ii. p. 340.—Bleda, Corónica, lib. 5, cap. 26.—Bernaldez, Reyes Católicos, MS., cap. 165.
"Fue muy gentil capitan," says Oviedo, speaking of this latter nobleman, "y valiente lanza; y rauchas vezes dio testimonio grande de su animoso esfuerzo." Quincuagenas, MS., bat. 1, quinc. 1, dial. 36.
[15] Abarca, Reyes de Aragon, tom. ii. fol. 340.—Zurita, Anales, tom. v. lib. 4, cap. 33.—Garibay, Compendio, tom. ii. lib. 19, cap. 10.— Bernaldez, Reyes Católicos, MS., cap. 165.—Marmol, Rebelion de Moriscos, lib. 1, cap. 28.
[16] Mendoza, Guerra de Granada, p. 13.—Abarca, Reyes de Aragon, tom. 2, fol. 340.—Marmol, Rebelion de Moriscos, lib. 1, cap. 28.—Oviedo, Quincuagenas, MS., bat. 1, quinc. 1, dial. 36.
The boy, who lived to man's estate, was afterwards created marquis of Priego by the Catholic sovereigns. Salazar de Mendoza, Dignidades, lib. 2, cap. 13.
[17] It is the simile of the fine old ballad:
"Solo queda Don Alonso
Su campaña es acabada
Pelea como un Leon
Pero poco aprovechaba."
[18] Bernaldez, Reyes Católicos, MS., ubi supra.—Abarca, Reyes de Aragon, tom. ii. ubi supra.—Garibay, Compendio, tom. ii. lib. 19, cap. 10.— Mendoza, Guerra de Granada, p. 13.—Sandoval, Hist. Del Emp. Carlos V., tom. i. p. 5.
According to Hyta's prose, Aguilar had first despatched more than thirty Moors with his own hand. (Guerras de Granada, part. i. p. 568.) The ballad, with more discretion, does not vouch for any particular number.